Oscars That NEVER Should Have Happened

Photo:

Image 1of/38

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 38

In fairness to ANNE HATHAWAY, she could easily have been nominated for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN or ONE DAY. But her Oscar in LES MISERABLES, for essentially wrecking the one good song in LES MISERABLES, has to stand as one of the worst Oscar choices of this generation. less

In fairness to ANNE HATHAWAY, she could easily have been nominated for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN or ONE DAY. But her Oscar in LES MISERABLES, for essentially wrecking the one good song in LES MISERABLES, has to stand ... more

Photo: ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ, AFP/Getty Images

In fairness to ANNE HATHAWAY, she could easily have been nominated... Photo-5890292.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 2 of 38

Cher for her inauthentic performance as an Italian American woman in MOONSTRUCK. Holly Hunter should have won that year for BROADCAST NEWS.

Cher for her inauthentic performance as an Italian American woman in MOONSTRUCK. Holly Hunter should have won that year for BROADCAST NEWS.

Photo: Marc Biggins, Getty Images

Cher for her inauthentic performance as an Italian American woman... Photo-5890310.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 3 of 38

Daniel Day-Lewis in a scene from "There Will Be Blood." Fun and all that, but Clooney should have won for MICHAEL CLAYTON.

Daniel Day-Lewis in a scene from "There Will Be Blood." Fun and all that, but Clooney should have won for MICHAEL CLAYTON.

Photo: Melinda Sue Gordon, AP

Daniel Day-Lewis in a scene from "There Will Be Blood."... Photo-5890311.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 4 of 38

Braveheart (1995): A good, overlong action movie, but not close to being the best film of 1995. (Better: APOLLO 13, BEFORE SUNRISE . . .)

Braveheart (1995): A good, overlong action movie, but not close to being the best film of 1995. (Better: APOLLO 13, BEFORE SUNRISE . . .)

"Slumdog Millionaire" (2008): Just a few years later, the movie has not dated well in memory. It's like a one-off anomaly that captured people's imaginations for a month, then lost them forever.

"Slumdog Millionaire" (2008): Just a few years later, the movie has not dated well in memory. It's like a one-off anomaly that captured people's imaginations for a month, then lost them forever.

"Slumdog Millionaire" (2008): Just a few years later,... Photo-5890313.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 6 of 38

"Forrest Gump" (1994): One of the worst best picture winners in history -- plodding and sentimental and lauded for technical achievements that have since been surpassed a hundred times over. Plus, by winning twice in a row, Tom Hanks has had the mild misfortune of not winning Oscars for his more deserving work. less

"Forrest Gump" (1994): One of the worst best picture winners in history -- plodding and sentimental and lauded for technical achievements that have since been surpassed a hundred times over. Plus, by winning ... more

"Forrest Gump" (1994): One of the worst best picture... Photo-5890314.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 7 of 38

American Beauty (1999): A not-bad film that won best picture.

American Beauty (1999): A not-bad film that won best picture.

Photo: Getty

American Beauty (1999): A not-bad film that won best picture. Photo-5890315.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 8 of 38

An American in Paris (1951): The quintessence of the 1950s Technicolor musicals -- big, colorful and flashy -- but not in the same league with A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE or A PLACE IN THE SUN, which were also nominated. less

An American in Paris (1951): The quintessence of the 1950s Technicolor musicals -- big, colorful and flashy -- but not in the same league with A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE or A PLACE IN THE SUN, which were also ... more

An American in Paris (1951): The quintessence of the 1950s... Photo-5890316.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 9 of 38

Luise Rainer -- one of the worst miscarriages of justice in Oscar history. She was fine in THE GOOD EARTH, but Greta Garbo should have won for CAMILLE.

Luise Rainer -- one of the worst miscarriages of justice in Oscar history. She was fine in THE GOOD EARTH, but Greta Garbo should have won for CAMILLE.

Luise Rainer -- one of the worst miscarriages of justice in Oscar... Photo-5890318.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 10 of 38

Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side" -- totally fine, but not in the year of Streep in JULIE & JULIA.

Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side" -- totally fine, but not in the year of Streep in JULIE & JULIA.

A Man for All Seasons (1966): A dry respectable film at a time when there were stronger alternatives. Like WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF.

A Man for All Seasons (1966): A dry respectable film at a time when there were stronger alternatives. Like WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF.

A Man for All Seasons (1966): A dry respectable film at a time... Photo-5890326.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 15 of 38

Crash: A truly brilliant Oscar campaign made this the alternative to "Brokeback Mountain," at a time when some Oscar voters were looking for one. It's a decent film, but it felt staid and nostalgic even in its own time. less

Crash: A truly brilliant Oscar campaign made this the alternative to "Brokeback Mountain," at a time when some Oscar voters were looking for one. It's a decent film, but it felt staid and nostalgic even in its ... more

Crash: A truly brilliant Oscar campaign made this the alternative... Photo-5890328.80060 - seattlepi.com

Two that shouldn't have happened in one picture. James Stewart won for THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (instead of Henry Fonda for THE GRAPES OF WRATH) and Ginger Rogers won for KITTY FOYLE.

Two that shouldn't have happened in one picture. James Stewart won for THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (instead of Henry Fonda for THE GRAPES OF WRATH) and Ginger Rogers won for KITTY FOYLE.

Two that shouldn't have happened in one picture. James... Photo-5890343.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 22 of 38

How Green Was My Valley (1941): Famous as the film that beat "Citizen Kane."

How Green Was My Valley (1941): Famous as the film that beat "Citizen Kane."

How Green Was My Valley (1941): Famous as the film that beat... Photo-5890344.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 23 of 38

French actress Leslie Caron in the title role of 'Gigi', directed by Vincente Minnelli, 1958. Charming, the best of the films nominated, but . . . how about VERTIGO, which wasn't nominated?

French actress Leslie Caron in the title role of 'Gigi', directed by Vincente Minnelli, 1958. Charming, the best of the films nominated, but . . . how about VERTIGO, which wasn't nominated?

Photo: HANDOUT

French actress Leslie Caron in the title role of 'Gigi',... Photo-9380736.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 24 of 38

In the Heat of the Night (1967): They called him Mr. Tibbs, and that was fine, but in many ways this was just a routine thriller that pressed the right buttons, as opposed to a great film -- and 1967 had several of them. (E.G., BONNIE AND CLYDE) less

In the Heat of the Night (1967): They called him Mr. Tibbs, and that was fine, but in many ways this was just a routine thriller that pressed the right buttons, as opposed to a great film -- and 1967 had ... more

In the Heat of the Night (1967): They called him Mr. Tibbs, and... Photo-5890346.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 25 of 38

Humphrey Bogart in THE AFRICAN QUEEN -- lots of fun, but not better than Marlon Brando in STREETCAR.

Humphrey Bogart in THE AFRICAN QUEEN -- lots of fun, but not better than Marlon Brando in STREETCAR.

Photo: HO

Humphrey Bogart in THE AFRICAN QUEEN -- lots of fun, but not better... Photo-5890350.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 26 of 38

Geoffrey Rush in SHINE. Nice guy, but what about Tom Cruise in JERRY MAGUIRE?

Geoffrey Rush in SHINE. Nice guy, but what about Tom Cruise in JERRY MAGUIRE?

Roberto Benigni won the Oscar for LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL . . . but it's never good to encourage a comedian when he goes sentimental.

Roberto Benigni won the Oscar for LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL . . . but it's never good to encourage a comedian when he goes sentimental.

Photo: SERGIO STRIZZI

Roberto Benigni won the Oscar for LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL . . . but... Photo-5890359.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 29 of 38

Gwyneth Paltrow in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE? How about Streep in ONE TRUE THING, or Cate Blanchett in ELIZABETH?

Gwyneth Paltrow in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE? How about Streep in ONE TRUE THING, or Cate Blanchett in ELIZABETH?

Photo: Eric Draper, AP Photo

Gwyneth Paltrow in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE? How about Streep in ONE... Photo-5890360.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 30 of 38

Al Pacino and Gabrielle Anwar in SCENT OF A WOMAN, 1992. This is what happens when they don't give a guy the Oscars he deserves. They end up giving him an Oscar for the worst performance of his career.

Al Pacino and Gabrielle Anwar in SCENT OF A WOMAN, 1992. This is what happens when they don't give a guy the Oscars he deserves. They end up giving him an Oscar for the worst performance of his career.

Photo: The Chronicle

Al Pacino and Gabrielle Anwar in SCENT OF A WOMAN, 1992. This is... Photo-5890362.80060 - seattlepi.com

Image 31 of 38

Actress Julia Roberts poses with her best actress Oscar for the film "Erin Brockovich" in 2001. How about Laura Linney for YOU CAN COUNT ON ME?

Actress Julia Roberts poses with her best actress Oscar for the film "Erin Brockovich" in 2001. How about Laura Linney for YOU CAN COUNT ON ME?